Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown easily won the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor Tuesday. He'll face the winner of the Republican nomination, businessman Larry Hogan, in November.
In his victory speech Tuesday evening Brown focused on helping Maryland's middle class, improving access to education and expanding the economy.
"Like Maryland's families, Maryland's next governor must run a tight ship," he said.
He also made reference to his military career, which he said encouraged him to see himself as "part of something bigger." He referred to his father, who came to America from Jamaica.
"He believed that if you work hard, you can pursue your dreams," Brown said. "Opportunity is at the heart of so many American stories.
"We face a choice in the next chapter," he said. "We will not be reading about that chapter; together we will be writing that chapter."
In Hogan's victory speech he highlighted the fact that he was not a politician and described himself as a "life-long Marylander." He blasted Brown for tax hikes that occurred during his time as lieutenant governor, and for underestimating the battle ahead.
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"Brown referred to the general election as a molehill," he said. "With your help we will turn that molehill into a mountain."
Maryland is largely Democratic, giving Brown an edge in the November general election. Bob Ehrlich in 2002 was the first Republican governor to be elected in Maryland since Spiro Agnew in 1967, and he was defeated in 2006 by current Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Celebrating his victory @ltgovbrown #mdprimary @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/AJjqrUnwFn — Lauren Dunn (@LDYogi) June 25, 2014
Brown's closest opponent, Doug Gansler, took almost 23 percent of the vote. In his concession speech Tuesday evening Gansler said that he had called Brown to congratulate him. He praised the "spirited debate" they had during the campaign.
"We agreed on more than we disagreed," he said. "We both are looking forward to a better Maryland in future."
The second major opponent to Brown, Heather Mizeur, took 21 percent of the vote. In her concession speech she praised her campaign for proving its skeptics wrong.
"We showed them the power a movement can have when we work together for positive change," Mizeur said. "We have changed the way campaigns will be run in the future."
The office of lieutenant governor is included on the ballot with the nominee for governor. Brown's lieutenant governor is Ken Ulman, Hogan's is Boyd Rutherford.
State Sen. Brian Frosh won the Democratic nomination for Maryland's attorney general. He had received 49 percent of the vote at 11:30 p.m.; closest competitor Jon Cardin trailed at 32 percent. Frosh will face Republican Jeffrey Pritzker and Libertarian Leo Wayne Dymowski at the general election Nov. 4.
Frosh already has the endorsement of Gov. Martin O'Malley, largely because of Frosh's focus on gun control measures in the past.
Meanwhile, Maryland's eight members of Congress were all nominated to serve new terms in the U.S. House.
Turnout was reported to be light at polls throughout the state. There were problems reported at some voting centers in Montgomery County; nine precincts reported errors with the electronic poll books which are used to look up voter names.
At one Bethesda polling place, 50 people were forced to vote with provisional paper ballots.
There were concerns earlier in the week that traffic generated by Tiger Woods’ Quicken Loans National golf tournament might impede voters’ ability to reach their polling center. However, no major issues were reported throughout the day.
The nominees for county executive in Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County were also on the ballot but were still contested at midnight. In Anne Arundel County Steve Schuh was ahead of his opponent Laura Neuman in the race for the Republican nomination, with 54 percent of the vote. George Johnson ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
In Montgomery County Ike Leggett had 46 percent of the vote for the Democratic nomination, ahead of his two opponents Douglas Duncan and Phil Andrews. Jim Shalleck ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.
